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Ranking the last 10 Buffalo Sabres first round picks from worst to best

By Sion Fawkes

Dec 14, 2021; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) is congratulated by his teammates on his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 14, 2021; Winnipeg, Manitoba, CAN; Buffalo Sabres defenseman Rasmus Dahlin (26) is congratulated by his teammates on his goal against the Winnipeg Jets during the second period at Canada Life Centre. Mandatory Credit: Terrence Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Buffalo Sabres
UNIONDALE, NEW YORK – MARCH 30: Alexander Nylander #92 of the Buffalo Sabres skates against the New York islanders at NYCB Live’s Nassau Coliseum on March 30, 2019 in Uniondale, New York. The Islanders defeated the Sabres 5-1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Alexander Nylander, LW/Mississauga Steelheads

If I was ranking only first round picks who have seen time in the NHL, Nylander would be the obvious cellar dweller. So here’s another bold prediction: Nylander freefalls to the bottom of these rankings if Rosen plays well and Johnson merely signs. 

I recently stated Nylander was among the worst draft picks in Buffalo Sabres history, and he has the numbers to back it up. As of 2022, he played in 84 NHL games, but 19 of them came with the Sabres. In those 19 contests, he scored just six points (three goals).

Nylander later saw 65 contests with the Chicago Blackhawks, where he scored 26 points and 10 goals. While those aren’t necessarily horrible statistics, he only saw 12:08 seconds of average ice time. Obviously, the Blackhawks weren’t impressed enough to trust him to man the ice for too long.

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